こしあん

こしあん
noun
smooth sweet bean paste; strained red bean paste
1. smooth sweet bean paste; strained red bean paste
Sweet red bean paste (あんこ) that has been strained to remove the bean skins, resulting in a completely smooth, fine-textured paste.
こしあんの羊羹(ようかん)()った。
I bought yokan made with smooth bean paste.
こしあんは舌触(したざわ)りがなめらかだ。
Smooth bean paste has a silky texture.
こしあんを(つく)るには、小豆(あずき)()てから裏漉(うらご)しする必要(ひつよう)がある。
To make smooth bean paste, you need to boil azuki beans and then strain them.

The name comes from ()す (to strain) + あん (sweet bean paste). Made by pressing cooked 小豆(あずき) beans through a sieve to remove the skins, then sweetening the resulting smooth paste.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • こしあんの羊羹(ようかん): yokan with smooth bean paste
  • こしあんの饅頭(まんじゅう): manju with smooth bean paste
  • こしあんの最中(もなか): monaka with smooth bean paste
  • こしあんのたい焼()き: taiyaki with smooth bean paste

CONTRAST:

  • (つぶ)あん: chunky bean paste — beans are only partially mashed, retaining texture
  • The こしあん vs (つぶ)あん preference is a common conversation topic in Japan. Generally, こしあん is considered more refined and is preferred in many traditional 和菓子(わがし)

ALTERNATE WRITING:
Also written as ()しあん or 漉し餡(こしあん).

RELATED TERMS:

  • あんこ: sweet bean paste (general term)
  • 小豆(あずき): azuki beans
  • (つぶ)あん: chunky bean paste
  • (しろ)あん: white bean paste (made from white beans)